Obituary of Kathleen Hurley

Kathleen N. “Kay” Hurley, age 89, of Corning, NY passed away on Sunday, July 22, 2018 at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, PA with her loving family at her side.

Kay was born on May 24, 1929 in Campbell, NY, the daughter of the late Benjamin E. and the late Emma L. (Dobson) Huggins. She was a graduate of Painted Post High School, class of 1946. She then attended SUNY Geneseo where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching. She married Joseph W. Hurley on May 28, 1955 at the Methodist Church in Painted Post. He preceded her in death on June 14, 2016 after 61 years of marriage.

Kay taught second grade when she was young, first at Addison, and then at Beaver Valley. After she married she spent her years as a homemaker raising her four children. Being home she was able to volunteer for various activities including scouting, and was always there to support her husband and children.

She loved holidays and family gatherings, and will always be remembered for her cheery whistle as she went about her day.

She had a great love for music in all of its forms. She played the piano for Sunday School when she was growing up. She always had a piano in her house, and she would often play and sing hymns and the old songs she knew from her youth. She loved dancing, and when she was young she attended circle and square dances at her family’s Old Cheese Factory dance hall on Meads Creek Road and took ballroom dancing with her husband Joe.

She is survived by her four children: Jolene Hurley of Baldwinsville, NY, Robert (Vicky) Hurley of Honeoye Falls, NY, William (Kathy) Hurley of Corning, NY, and Debra (Peter) Nishimoto of Amherst, NH; 13 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and sisters: Elsie Hauryski of Campbell, NY and Dolores (George) Leber of Ballston Spa, NY.

In addition to her parents and husband Joseph, Kay was predeceased by her first husband, Wendell J. Doud.

Family and friends are invited to call on Friday, July 27, 2018 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Phillips Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 17 W. Pulteney Street, Corning, NY. A funeral service will immediately follow at the funeral home at 1:00 pm. Burial will take place in the family plot at Chapel Knoll Cemetery, Painted Post.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Chemung County Humane Society & SPCA, 2435 St. Rt. 352, Elmira NY 14903. Kay loved all animals passionately and supported this organization for many years.